Apply for a Grant

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the 2025 grant cycle are now closed. 

EOI's will re-open in March 2025 and be held for review for the 2026 grant cycle.

If you're looking for information on how to apply for a grant, you've come to the right place.

The First West Foundation administers several endowment funds which grant to specific communities across British Columbia. We provide impact grants and capacity grants—read on to learn more! We appreciate the complexities facing our charitable partners and to support their needs, our impact grants are released as unrestricted funds. This means you decide where and how those funds have the greatest impact in your organization. Capacity grants remain restricted at this time. 

We know your time is valuable, that’s why we ask all interested charities to complete an expression of interest (EOI). This quick and brief online form gives us information about your organization and how we might help you. Before completing your EOI, please look through the list of endowments and their corresponding fundings areas. If you think your organization fits within an impact area of one our endowments, please submit an EOI.

All EOIs are reviewed for alignment with First West Foundation’s impact priorities and if qualified, your organization will be invited to submit a grant proposal in our next funding cycle. Expressions of Interest are accepted anytime throughout the year, it’s not first in, first out, but we must receive your EOI by the date above to be considered in the next year’s granting program. 

Grant Process Timeline

You’ve qualified—that’s great! Early in January, we’ll send you a grant proposal, along with deadlines and any important information you need to know. And we’re always available by phone or virtual meetings if you have questions along the way. Grant proposals are evaluated and reviewed with final approval received from the Foundation Board. Decisions on grant distributions are made approximately two months after the application deadline.

Granting timeline

All organizations submitting a grant proposal will be notified of their status after the formal process is completed. We appreciate it is disappointing to not receive a grant but unfortunately, due to overwhelming needs of our community, and our desire to respond to them in a balanced and equitable manner, the Foundation is not able to approve every grant proposal received.

Funding Restrictions

Funding restrictions include and may not be limited to:

• capital campaigns

• deficit or debt reduction

• faith based organizations 

• individual funding

• political organizations

• retroactive expenses

• sponsorship and marketing partnerships

Complete the Expression of Interest Now